Search for Halterman also leads to marijuana growing operation
Rodney Halterman, 18, of Jefferson was arrested Thursday afternoon in Greene County on a Story County warrant for attempted murder, a Class B felony.
An Ames woman says she was shot in the chest Saturday afternoon at a residence in Ames. She and a witness identified Halterman as the shooter. That began a five-day search for Halterman.
The search ended Thursday at 3:47 pm at a residence at 1028 130th St east of Churdan when Greene County sheriff Jack Williams and deputies conducted a search warrant there. The Jefferson police department and the Iowa State Patrol assisted. Halterman was arrested without incident.
Halterman was a senior at Greene County High School when he was arrested in October for allegedly selling marijuana at the school. He was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and failure to affix a tax stamp. He was arrested in November for distributing marijuana to a person younger than 18. He was set to go to trial Jan. 29 in Greene County on those charges.
While searching for Halterman in Jamaica, Guthrie County sheriff Marty Arganbright deputies found 18 marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia in the home of Jamaica mayor LaDonna Kennedy, 50, and her husband Randy Kennedy, 58..
The Kennedys have been charged with manufacture with intent to deliver no more than 50 kilograms of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and failure to affix a tax stamp.
The search warrant was executed at the Kennedys’ home after deputies smelled raw marijuana while standing at their door to inquire about Halterman.
